Blackberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’, selected for its early production, flavor, and fruit size, is disclosed.

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof blackberry plant is ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearingdark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the familyRosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are nowbeing cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world,particularly in Europe, North America and Central America. Recognizedfor their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, andvitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit,individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purees,juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearlythe entire crop being produced for export into the off-season freshmarkets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almostentirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’), In theUnited States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer,followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems(known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types areprimocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, andfloricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the nextgrowing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, growsvigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habitof erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing largecompound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce anyflowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stopselongating_(;) but the lateral buds break to produce flowering lateralsthat bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developedwhich are capable of flowering and fruiting on first-year canes.Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have several advantages,including potential of two crops on the same plant in the same year,reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance of winterinjury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area. However,primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to a number ofchallenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality, and lowyield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop.Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. Inparticular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plantthat are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L.subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ was selected in Los Reyes,Mexico in March of 2011 and originated from a cross between the femaleparent blackberry plant ‘DrisBlackFive’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,701) andthe proprietary male parent blackberry plant ‘BM656.4’ (unpatented). Theoriginal seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagated viaroot cuttings in Los Reyes, Mexico in March of 2011.

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and underwent testing at a test plot in Los Reyes, Mexico from2011 to 2019 for 8 years. The present variety has been found to bestable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations via root cuttings.

‘DrisBiackTwentyOne’ exhibits the following distinguishingcharacteristics over other similar varieties when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Los Reyes, Mexico:

-   -   1. Absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane;    -   2. Absent or few glandular hairs on young shoot; and    -   3. Medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section.

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ was selected for its early production, flavor, andfruit size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs, which show fruit of the plant, flowers, a leaf, a cane, anda plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants thatare three years old,

FIG. 1 illustrates typical fruit of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ atvarious stages of development.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical flowers of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ atvarious stages of development.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical leaf of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a typical cane with leaves of variety‘DrisBlackTwentyOneOne’.

FIG. 5 illustrates a typical cane without leaves of variety‘DrisBlackTwentyOneOne’.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plant of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’. The data that define these characteristics arebased on observations taken in Los Reyes, Mexico from 2011 to 2019. Thisdescription is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations,color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate fromthe stated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The botanical description of‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ was taken from plants that were three years old.The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements ofseveral plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015edition), Descriptive terminology follows the Plant IdentificationTerminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harrisand Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisBlackFive’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,701).        -   Male parent.—‘BM656.4’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.-   Canes:    -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—21.18 cm.        -   Number of fruits per fruiting lateral.—6.9.        -   Internodal distance.—4.49 cm.        -   Dormant cane.—Anthocyanin coloration: Absent or very weak.            Predominant distribution of branches: Over whole length.            Cross-section: Rounded to angular. Presence of spines:            Present. Attitude of spine apex in relation to cane:            Downwards.-   Young shoots:    -   -   Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth).—RHS 184B            (Purple).        -   Intensity of green color.—RHS 141.E (Strong bluish green).-   Leaves:    -   -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 85.9 mm. Width: 72.7 mm.            Length/width ratio: 1.18. Lobing: Absent. Shape in            cross-section: V-shaped. Undulation of margin: Strong. Shape            of apex: Acute. Shape of base: Cordate.        -   Lateral leaflets (basal pair).—Length: 55.8 mm. Width:            42.5 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.31. Shape of apex: Acute.            Shape of base: Rounded.        -   Rachis length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets.—26.4 mm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 55.4 mm. Diameter: 3.4 mm. Pigmentation of            upper side: RHS 143A (Strong green). Pigmentation of            underside: RHS 143C (Strong yellowish green).        -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate.        -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate.            Intensity of green color of upper side: RHS 139A (Dark            green). Intensity of green color of underside: RHS 137A            (Greyish green). Texture of upper surface: Medium rough.            Texture of lower surface: Soft medium. Venation pattern:            Dichotomous. Vein color: RHS 145A (Strong yellow-green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Diameter.—31.61 mm.        -   Petal.—Length: 16.40 mm. Width: 10.70 mm. Length/width            ratio: 1.53. Color: RHS 155C (Pinkish white) on both upper            and lower surfaces of the petal. Number of petals per            flower: 5. Petal shape: Obovate. Margin: Crenate. Shape of            apex: Ovate. Shape of base: Cuspidate.        -   Number of flowers observed at 3^(rd) node from tip of            lateral.—3.9.        -   Sepal.—Number of sepals per flower: 5. Color of upper side:            RHS 144D (Light yellow-green). Color of lower side: RHS 145B            (Light yellow-green). Length: 5.41 mm. Width: 2.71 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 26.82 mm. Diameter: 1.73 mm. Color: RHS            143D (Moderate yellow-green).        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.021 mm. Width: 0.019 mm. Shape: Capitate.            Color: RHS 143C (Strong yellow-green).        -   Style.—Length: 1.72 mm. Width: 0.12 mm. Shape: Elongate.            Color: RHS 143C (Strong yellow-green).        -   Ovary.—Length: 0.010 mm. Width: 0.08 mm. Shape: Capitate.            Color: RHS 157B (Pale yellow-green).        -   Stamen.—Length: 3.6 mm. Width: 0.23 mm. Shape:            Tetradynamous. Color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green).        -   Anther.—Length: 0.90 mm. Width: 0.87 mm. Shape: Globose.            Color: RHS 145C (Light yellow-green).        -   Pollen.—Diameter: 0.0004 mm. Shape: Prolate. Color: RHS 145C            (Light yellow-green).-   Fruit:    -   -   Length of mature fruit.—35.72 mm.        -   Diameter of mature fruit.—24.63 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—1.4.        -   Average number of drupelets per fruit.—108.        -   Fruit weight.—9.5 g/fruit.        -   Soluble Solids (in Brix).—15.2%.        -   Titratable acidity (as citric acid).—0.92%.        -   Seed weight.—0.003 g/seed.        -   Shape in longitudinal section.—Medium ovate.        -   Immature fruit color.—RHS 146A (Dark green).        -   Maturing fruit color.—RHS 185A (Deep reddish purple).        -   Mature fruit color.—RHS 202A (Black).        -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Absent.        -   Harvest interval on previous year's cane.—Early October to            mid-June.        -   Yield.—10,366 kg/hectare to 19,612 kg/hectare of fruit per            season from 9-month-old plants when grown in Ciudad Guzman,            Mexico.        -   Market use of fruit.—Fresh market.        -   Shipping and storage characteristics.—Following harvest,            fruit can be stored for 8 days if maintained under cooled            temperatures (e.g. 2° C.) that are standard for blackberry            storage.-   Resistance to diseases:    -   -   Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).—Resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ differs from the female parent ‘DrisBlackFive’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,701) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has higheryield potential compared to ‘DrisBlackFive’. Moreover,‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ differs from the female parent ‘DrisBlackFive’ inthat ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has absent or very weak anthocyanin colorationon dormant cane, a palmate type of leaf, and fruiting on previous year'scane only. In contrast, ‘DrisBlackFive’ has strong anthocyanincoloration on dormant cane, an odd-pinnate type of leaf, and fruiting onboth previous year's cane and current year's cane.

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘BM656.4’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ is spiny while ‘BM656.4’ isspineless. Moreover, ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has higher vigor than‘BM656.4’.

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ differs from commercial variety ‘Tupy’ (alsospelled ‘Tupi’, unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has absent orfew number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a V shape of terminalleaflet in cross-section, a medium fruit length to width ratio, and amedium ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section. In contrast, ‘Tupy’has a medium number of glandular hairs on young shoot, a U shape ofterminal leaflet in cross-section, a small fruit length to width ratio,and a circular to medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinal section.

‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ differs from commercial variety‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,291) in that‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ has a downwards attitude of spine apex in relationto dormant cane, a predominant distribution of branches over wholelength of dormant cane, absent or few number of glandular hairs on youngshoot, and a very long length of fruit. In contrast,‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ has an upwards attitude of spine apex in relationto dormant cane, a predominant distribution of branches only on upperhalf of dormant cane, many glandular hairs on young shoot, and a mediumlength of fruit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlackTwentyOne’ as shown and described herein.